Sparking yo-yo



Aug. 8, 1950 M. J. DE VINCENT ETAL SPARKING YO-YO 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 12, 1949 FIG. 3.

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mM H m m Q 0 V N N 0 W a HJ we [MB g- 1950 M. J. DE VINCENT ETAL 2,517,849

SPARKING YO-YO Filed July 12, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTO R N EY Patented Aug. 8, 1 950 SPARKING YO-YO Michaels'l. De Vincent; and Thomaslc llomatico Brooklyn, N:.-.Y

Y "This;invention" relates 0:..tcys; and :morespar ticularly to a sparking 'yo yos A-particular feature of=noveltyand advantage oi the present iriventidn; in =contradistinction to; the sparking yo--yos 'of the prior artiis': the provi'sibnot a yo-yo having its" sparkingmemb'ers: wholly"contained-withintheyo=yo;' wherebygwhen theyo-yo-is reciprocated away-from-andtoward the operator; a brilliant shower -of sparks is emittediyetthe sparks-are not discharged exteri orly of -the device; and Wis-thus possible for -it tob'e operated with perfect safetyby children Other features f-of "novelty and advantage ot:

the 'improved safety'yo yo' of the present inven ticn include the provision o-f a 'hollo'wbody; d'esirablyof apposed; spaced cups-s mounted on an axis, the=driving member or pulleybeifig centered on the axis with the cord i secured to the =pulleyp or 'looped therearound, and a yoke member1oosely mounted 'on the axis' andheld in'=relatively; fixed position "by the "cord passing therethrough; the 1 Hollow; bipartite body; havizigapertures pro tected by transparent window materiaL'r'serving a's j themomentum member: Anadditional feature novelty and advantage of the -'-inventi'on herei "the provision of mounting the coacting-sparking members-that is, the -flints and cooperating 'abra si-ve surfacing; on the yoke and'the surfaces of theinside: of *the hollow cups; or -theouter-surfaces of 'the'yQkaorvice-Versa; the flints being mounted singly or in multiple:-

The 'abo-ve and other-desirablefeatures ofnov elty and advantage of the presentinvention will be more clearly appreciated and understood by reference "to the following description, including;

' In the drawings; like-numerals -refe'r' to similar parts throughout the several. views; or which Fig: 1' is" a side elevation Of animprQVed-ya-yo showingth'e viewing apertures:

Fig; 2 isaviewsimilar to Fig. l; with one halff' ofth'e casing-removed; and "showing the mounting;

dflvin'gicord-;'-- I r Fig; 3 is..a ,vertical 'section'taken on line 3-;3 of

Fig.1; with thefipulley; and "axis being shown in' elevation; I I Fig.4 is'an elevation of the inside Of'awasing membershown inFigs; 1 toe; and illustratingone method of frhountingthe abrasive sm'facings;

' Figs: .5 and 6 are views respectively--similar'-to Figs: 2f and-3', and; showing" a modifledjform'of jEig. 7 is an elevation'of'tlie "yoke showman sends;

egolaimsr ('Cl.:, 6+-48) v 2 n Fig? 8 is an: elevation ofrithe yoke shownflinir.

Figs.'5.'and'6;* Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 3',-"showing:.the: abradi'ng surfacings: on theouterrfaceswoi' the pulleyaand the fiint carrying yoke biased.:to.-ef-= fect b'earin g engagement .of-the i-fiints. againstxthex abradingsuriacings;

Fig. 10 is a'view taken'on-1ine'-H3-'--l0 of 9; with one-half the casing removedand'the yoke; shown in elevation;

Fig. 11': is .a vertical transverse: section" Of-an. modified form'of the yo-yo of Fig; 9, showing-the:- flintsmountedinathe casingmembersa Fig: 12 is an-elevation; partly in broken section;

' Figr131'is an elevation'of theyoke member-oh; Figs: 9:to-'12, and I Fig. 14 :is a view similar tovFigs; 3,6; 9 :and 111;. showinga cord looped'around-the axis andrtwistedf on itself: 1

Referring to Figs. 1-10 of 3' the. drawings; they. novel toy herein is seento comprise. a'body lug}, formed of-iidentical cup shaped halves or-sections? l l demountably secured .to axis 1 2; asby machine;

screwsul3: The-sections I I, as shown,- are dished:-

. desirably-covered with colored, t1z'anslucent p1as tic sheets; or. thedike; to give a varicoloredreffect to the sparkdis'play. 7

Asshown-in Figslto 6, 9 and lwa'pulley- 20ris formedbyspaced disks 2i, 22, whichikaresfixedlyi mounted on :the axis and define a -central spindle section 23, on the axis. The spacing between-the1 disks-corresponds to-the .widthof theperipheral slot l6, with thespindle section 23 inthe'plane of the-slotl6; The-width of aligned sl0t l6 and; spindle '23 is slightly greater thanthat of cord 24, which may be threaded througha hole inthe= spindle section and securedby aknot 25.". This construction insures that :the cord will'loe. wound; up as -a flat spiral lying in the dead center of the: device; thereby precluding the yo-yo from W013!- blingaduring its spinning operation;

The sparking mechanism'of theimprovedyoieyo; in 'apreferred form, as shown in Figs; 1:-6;1com-r= In the yo-yo illustrated in Figs. 1-4, and '7, the

flint-carrying yoke 32 comprises a pair of symmetrical disk sections 33, joined by a bridging section 34, having a centered aperture 35, aligned with and of the same diameter as the width ,of Y

peripheral slot I6 and spindle 23. The disk sections 33 are provided with aligned central apertures 36, which are larger than and ride freely over the axis l2, on both sides of the pulley.2fl.-

As shown, these disk sections are also provided with a plurality of marginal apertures 31, which serve to mount the flints 40. While the flints are shown in force fit in the apertures3'l, the invention comprehends the use of an suitable flint securing mechanism.

The assembly of the yo-yo herein is simple and substantially foolproof. The yoke 32 is sprung outwardly so that the axis I2 is fitted through aligned bearings 35. The driving cord 24 is then secured to spindle 23 and threaded through hole 35 of the yoke. The cup or shell sections H are then fitted on the ends of axis l2 and fixedly secured thereto by screws l3, as shown. The disks 33 of the yoke 32, are sprung outwardly so as to bias the flints 40 in sparking engagement with the abrasive surfacings 30. The sections ll form a substantially enclosed; hollow chamber, rotatable with and about axis l2. When the yo-yo I is rotated on itself, the driving cord 24 is spooled on the spindle 23 as a flat spiral lying in the dead center of the yo-yo. When the yo-yo I0 is thrown out, in any direction, the player holding the free end of cord 24 securely, the'casing (Ii-4|), the axis I2, and spool 20 will be projected. forwardly with a rotating motion, while the yoke will be restrained b the cord 24, and will not rotate. As a result of this condition, the flints 40 will remain stationary with respect to the yo-yo H] as it rotates, and the abrasive surfacings 30 'will move or rotate with the device and abrade the relatively immovable flints, thereby causing sparking. The sparks liberated will be viewable through the windows I8 and the peripheral slot l6, yet will be wholly contained within the hollow casing of the device because of its improved construction.

When the yo-yo has reached the end of its forward travel, its momentum will cause it to wind itself upon the cord, in the reverse direction, and with continuous sparking, due to the special and uniform biasingof the flints against the oscillating abrasive surfacings, which biasing flows from the special and improved construction and mounting of the yoke within the, special bipartite yo-yo casing.

A modification of the yo-yo of Figs. 1-4, and 7, is illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 8. Instead of the sheetmetal or plastic yoke 32, there provided a wire yoke 50, desirably of hard drawn brass or of steel. This type of yoke comprises a generally U-shaped member, inverted as shown, and comprised of symmetrical legs joined by an integral cross bar or base 52. The top cross bar or bridge 52 incorporates a central loop 53 defining a driving cord-receiving aperture. The legs 5| incorporate aligned central loops 54, of a diameter. suflicient to permit free rotation of axis I2.

At the bottom of legs 5|, loops 55 are formed, and

serve as flint carriers, as shown. The operation of this form of yo-yo will be identical with that of the type illustrated in Figs. 1-4, and 7. While only one flint is shown on each side of the wire yoke, the invention comprehends the use of any suitable number, depending on the sparking effect desired.

' Referring now fto Figs. 9, l0 and 13, the modifiedyo yo will be seen to-"comprise the usual casing and driving elements. The abrasive covered surfaces 3| are seen as formed on the outer surface of the disks 2|, 22, and are engaged by flints 40 mounted in yoke 50. The yoke 50 comprises a U-shaped member having leg-s 5|, 52, joined by a cross bar 53. The legs 5|, 52, are provided ,withaligned apertures 54, 55, severally corresponding to apertures 36 of yoke member 32. The cord -receiving aperture 56 in section 53 corresponds in position and function to aperture 35 0f'y0ke32. The legs 5|,. 52 are formed with aligned flint-receivingapertures 51, 58, and are bowed inwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 9 to bias the flints 40 inwardly against abrasive surfacings 3| oncthe outside of disks 2!, 22. cord 24 is wound on the spindle in the usual manner,=and is threaded through hole' 56 in yoke 50.: In the form shown-in Figs. 11 and 12, the casing sections HA are flatter than those of the devices of Figs.'1-.-3, 4-6, and 9- 0. The flints 40 are mounted in flint-receiving apertures 62 of the shell casings, and have sparking, bearing engagement against abrasive surfacings 3| formed on theouter'surfaces of disks64, 65, which are joined by-bridge section 66, apertured to receive the driving cord in the usual manner. The spacing betweenthedisks- 64, 65-corresponds in degree'and function to that between the disks 2|, 22, which arefixedly secured on the axis l2. The disks 6,4, 55 are centrally apertured to permit free rotation of axis l2 therein and therethrough. Becauseof the flattened constructionof this type of sparking yo-yo,.a lighter, and less bulky device is secured, while retaining the positive'and safety sparking-features of the other forms of the novel.

yo-yo herein. 1 1

In the use of a looped cord, as illustrated in Fig. 1,4, the yo-yo rotates inplace, about the loop ll of the cord10,which is twisted on itself, as indicated at I2.' The free end l3 of the twisted.

cord is secured in any suitable manner, and desirably to a ring 14- With the yo-yo spinning freely about the loop H of cord 10, a slight jerk of the cord will cause the loop to bind and the yo-yo will wind up the cord about the spindle section of the axis-to permit the operation of the yo-yo in the manner of theforrns usinga cord fixedlysecuredto the spindle'of the axis.-

It will be seen that with the improvements herein, a variety ofyo-yos can be made from standard parts, which are interchangeable in the various forms. Thusthe casing is made of identical cup sections, mounted and secured on,

The driving.

provided an improved safety type sparking yo-yo of novel construction, wherein the cooperating sparking and driving elements are wholly encased and protected in and by the body of the yo-yo itself, and the yo-yo is susceptible of sparking action when projected outwardly from the user,

and in any direction whatsoever.

What is clamed is:

1. A safety sparking yo-yo comprising a peripherally slotted, hollow, circular casing having a central axis, a grooved hub in the casing and operatively associated with the axis, an operating cord secured on the axis and looped in a flat spiral in the grooved hub and extending through the peripheral slot, said cord adapted to be wound or unwound in either direction during operation of the yo-yo, a spring biasing yoke member in the casing, said yoke member and axis having mating bearing parts for free rotation of the axis and casing about the yoke, said yoke being perforated to receive the operating cord, abrasive surfacings and fiints cooperatively associated with the inner walls of the casing, and the yoke, and in mutually spring-biased bearing engagement, the operating cord serving to prevent rotation of the yoke and thereby providing relative movement of the flints and abrasive surfaces to cause sparking of the yo-yo during operation.

2. Yo-yo according claim 1, comprised of a pair of symmetrical, demountable dished members spacedly mounted on the axis and rotatable therewith, the opposed rims defining the peripheral slot of the casing.

3. Yo-yo according to claim 2, characterized by inturned, rolled rims forming conjoint stiffening sections and spark-receiving pockets, and fenestrations comprised of spaced wall openings.

4. Yo-yo according to claim 3, characterized by internal abrasive surfaces.

5. Yo-yo according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said grooved hub includes a pair of spaced disks secured about the axis and defining therewith a cord-receiving groove-lying in the plane of the peripheral slot, the said groove and slot being substantially equal in width.

6. Yo-yo according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the yoke members comprise stirrups consisting of a perforated, top saddle section, and depending, spring-biased legs, the legs being provided with a pair of aligned openings adapted to receive the axis therein and form bearing therefor.

7. Yo-yo according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that the legs of the stirrups are also provided with flint holding means.

8. Yo-yo according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the yokes are formed of spring sheet metal.

9. Yo-yo according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the yokes are formed of spring wire.

MICHAEL J. DE VINCENT. THOMAS C..POMATICO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,760,622 Aronson May 27, 1930 2,076,658 Marx Apr. 13, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 392,002 Great Britain May 11, 1933 

